Betti Sy kidnap-slay brains surrenders

The suspected mastermind of the kidnap-slaying of Coca-Cola Export Corp. finance manager Betti Chua Sy last November surrendered to agents of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) in Guiguinto, Bulacan yesterday.

NAKTF chief Angelo Reyes said Mariolito Demol decided to turn himself in to provide vital information on the other suspects in the kidnap-slay of Sy.

Demol, a former employee of the Sy family, said he surrendered because he was afraid of being executed by his gang mates in the notorious "Waray-Waray" kidnap-for-ransom group. He, however, denied involvement in the actual abduction and killing of Sy.

Reyes said Demol played a key role in the kidnap-slay since he provided all information to the group on the daily activities of the Sy family.

Demol was privy to Sy’s schedule after working as a machine operator at one of the family businesses for six years, Reyes said.

Another suspect, Ramil Victoriano, who allegedly acted as the legman of the group, also surrendered to National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco yesterday.

Victoriano said he was tasked by the group to scout for a getaway vehicle.

Victoriano said his participation was limited only to running errands. He said the kidnappers had holed up in the house of Baby Tamayo at Heritage Homes Subdivision in Trece Martirez City in Cavite.

Victoriano added that it was at Tamayo’s residence where he overheard plans to kidnap Sy.

Sy was abducted on her way to work on Nov. 17 in Quezon City. Her body was found stuffed inside a garbage bag along the seafront in Parañaque City the following day.

Victoriano claimed he was ordered to hire a taxi which would dump the body of Sy.

With the surrender of Demol and Victoriano, authorities have 12 other suspects in custody, including Demol’s sister Maria Editha who recently surrendered to the police in Cagayan de Oro City.

Subsequent operations by the NAKTF and the NBI following the kidnapping led to the immediate arrest of Romeo Decallo, Ernesto Palla, Ramon Demol, Cerio Macanip Jr., Rolando and Antonio Cabuenos.

Police have also arrested other suspects, among them Lucienco Saliente, Fernando Niegos, Allan Niegas, Franco and Danilo Artoza, and Baby Tamayo, owner of the house in Trece Martirez where the plan to kidnap Sy was hatched.

Tamayo surrendered to the NBI last Jan. 19 but denied the charges.

The Sy kidnapping marked an upsurge in kidnapping incidents in the country in recent months, prompting anti-crime groups and businessmen to call on President Arroyo to implement tougher measures and lift the moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty law.

Mrs. Arroyo also appointed Reyes to head NAKTF, an agency created to lead all anti-kidnapping efforts.

The other day, Reyes presented Reynaldo Cacho, another prize catch in their anti-kidnapping efforts.

Cacho is one of the country’s most wanted kidnappers who was arrested by NAKTF agents in Western Samar Saturday. He was reportedly a member of the notorious Estrada kidnap gang and was ranked eighth on the PNP’s list of notorious kidnappers.

Cacho was ranked fifth in the NAKTF’s most wanted list with a P500,000 bounty for his arrest.

Police said Cacho was involved in the kidnapping of 13-year-old Rubelyn Chua on Aug. 21 last year. - With Cecille Suerte Felipe